Uncomfortable Truths (from a former resident)
I want people to know that it isn't just "outside agitators" that are upset with Dearborn's cultural shift. Dearborn residents, past and present, are not thrilled with the direction the City is headed.
Speaking as a former resident, and a former employee, I can attest to some disturbing things I have seen, heard and lived through in Dearborn, and only in Dearborn. Things are only getting worse now. (And fucking Jake Lang isn't going to help!)
Let's start with curb appeal. Dearborn loves it gardens, it's a whole history I won't get into. But the curb appeal has gone down, way down. Having lived on both the east side and west side of town, both prior homes look terrible now. Unkept. On the east end, the house next door has actually been demolished and it's an empty lot. On the west end, no joke - like five or six long time families moved out of the City all within a year or two of one another. That block also now looks terrible. Lawns aren't cut, American flags have all been replaced with foriegn flags...the flowers and plants look raggedy, paint is chipping....It's sad to see honestly.
Seperataion of church and state has slowly erroded. Hallal meats in the public schools, and prayer rooms in City Hall. It's not a prayer room anymore, it's an 'inclusive quiet room.' Totally started as an empty room on the second floor with a prayer rug and koran. They even consider intalling bathing centers for the religious who have to do that according to their religion. The lines aren't blurred, they are quite defining. They give Muslim students places to go during Ramadan where they can avoid the cafeteria because they are fasting. This has been going on in public schools for decades. They only make these religious accommodations for Muslims. Not Catholics, not Jews, not Hindus. I saw a sign outside a Muslim daycare that said, "We have Muslim Girl Scouts!"
Traffic in Dearborn is insane, and it wasn't always like this!!! I learned to drive here as a teenager, I know it wasn't like this. Now, no one follows any of the traffic laws. I see left turns over double yellow lines allllll day. It's normal now to wait when the light turns green to make sure no one is running the red in your direction. Road rage, tinted windows and gun violence are the rules of the road in Dearborn. And everyone has to drive eveywhere, so you are always at risk of getting caught up in something.
I could go on and on, but you get the point. My family has been here 85 years, and this may be the worst the City has been. The City poverty rate has actually increased since Abdullah has been in office. Long time familes are moving out fast.
If you are able to vote in Dearborn, I ask you to NOT vote for this Mayor ever again. I know, I know, we all had such high hopes because he was young and energetic! Unfortunately it didn't work out.
Edited: It seems there is an assumption that I am leaning towards one party or another. I am independent, and a woman.
The lack of concern for basic American liberties, such as the Separation of Church and State, really concern me. There doesn't seem to be a connection between loss of American liberties with the rise (and acceptance) of facist values. Don't forget- Dearborn voted for Trump! The same people that attacked the man pardoned by Trump probably also voted for Trump 😆